Special thanks to Wendy Robinson, a lovely artist I follow on Youtube. Her channel is “The Unexpected Gypsy.” Her Patreon has lovely content and this introspective was inspired by her December 2024 podcast (on her Patreon). I have been a member for 3 years and her Freedom Journaling has helped me so much with processing and dealing with my chronic pain and Lupus!
2024 was a big year for me in personal growth. I chose to make my art a priority and a lot of good things came from that! Reflecting and making changes for the better is something I did a LOT of for my National Boards teaching journey so here goes!
Good Things
-I achieved National Board Certification in Early-Middle Childhood Art!
-Studying for the National Boards test had me falling in love with art history all over again.
-I bought myself opaque media- oils and gouache and painted with them. I hadn’t used oil paints in a decade.
-I got back into my studio and painted again.
-I re-opened and listed art in my Etsy Shop
-Because I spent most of the last two years being almost completely immersed in National Boards work art became a luxury, but it also made me remember how important it was for my being. I definitely rewarded my hard work on National Boards with art time!
-I was good to myself and took myself on artist’s dates to the mountains, and to art stores, on vacation I made sure to do art.
-I finally came up with a great way to sketch in the car.
-I did/am working on a really big oil painting (a lightning rod).
-I tried really hard to make art a priority when, and even where I could.
-I got into drawing my precious children again, telling past stories for good memory-keeping and illustrating them.
-I just loved color this year- putting it everywhere, using lots of different media to explore and achieve colors I wanted!
What I Want for Next Year 2025
-I want to go back in my studio and paint as many days as I can.
-I would like to finish and publish my ghost story book.
-I would like to show, and sell my work locally.
-I want to list more of my works on Etsy.
-I want to work on the sequel to “The Secret of Sterling House.”
-I’d like to keep going with oils and gouache and get better with opaque media.
-I want to stay off my phone and youtube, and choose to be creative instead.
-I want to do these fun things even when it isn’t the weekend.
-I want to better balance creativity with my family and work.
Artist’s Self-Care I Can Bring Into 2025
-My hygge art basket I can use while being cozy, yet staying out of the bed. (When you have a disease that makes you tired and suffer from chronic pain you end up in the bed, a lot.)
-Tea and journaling together- a favorite.
-Different treats and things for each season and holiday. (For instance I change out my teacup with the seasons.)
A Gratitude, a Celebration, and a Wish!
-I am grateful for the good days, when I have the energy to work and play (art), for my beautiful supportive family, and God, my gorgeous art supplies.
-I am celebrating becoming a National Board Certified Teacher!
-I wish I could physically go back to being an art teacher and that my health would allow me to do that. Maybe one day…
-I also wish I would get in the studio more and do more art!
Inspiratons
-All the art history I studied in 2024.
The mountains here and in Colorado, God’s creation!
-My children, my husband, my home.
-Lightning rods
-Colors, always colors, layers, figuring out mixtures, mood, light, shadows, glow
Top 5 Supplies of the Year
-My hacked Rickshaw Art Toolkit for car arting!
-Opaque paints- oils and gouache
-My Moleskine journals and sketchbooks
-My colored pencil collection: Caran d’ Ache Supracolor Pencils and Prismacolors
-Escoda Reserva travel watercolor brushes- chef’s kiss!
Breakthrough / Favorite Pieces
-Lightning Rod, not done yet, but got me back into oil painting
-The drawing of the end of “Summerwind” house in Wisconsin, haunting beauty of an abandoned house
-All the lovely paintings I did of the mountains in Colorado which I gave to our friends!
-Drawings of my Royal Doulton Brambly Hedge China
-Looking back at my butterfly pieces
One Last Thing, Anything!
I really, really want to continue the positive changes in my art practices and am committing to make that my resolution for 2025!
With positive changes moving forward for you from me on Kansas Street,
Love,
-Jaime
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believeing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
-Romans 15:3
Life on Kansas Street 